24 Sep 2020: UPSC Exam Comprehensive News Analysis

24 Sep 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A. GS 1 Related
B. GS 2 Related
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. Sri Lanka Oppn. challenges new Bill in SC
2. G4 seeks time-bound reform of Security Council
POLITY AND GOVERNANCE
1. Eight Bills passed on last day of Rajya Sabha
C. GS 3 Related
ECONOMY
1. Labour Bills passed amid boycott
SECURITY
1. ‘MSMEs, start-ups not for non-personal data policy’
D. GS 4 Related
E. Editorials
SOCIAL ISSUES
1. Weighing in on the efficacy of female leadership
2. The mental health needs of the homeless
F. Prelims Facts
G. Tidbits
1. Workers lost $3.5 tn in wages due to pandemic
2. CAG: Rafale vendors yet to confirm tech transfer
3. U.S. House panel holds hearing on rights in Asia
4. China vows to go carbon neutral by 2060
H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions
I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

2. G4 seeks time-bound reform of Security Council

Context:

Foreign Ministers from the Group of 4 — India, Brazil, Japan and Germany — a group that is seeking permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC), met virtually to further their objective.

Details:

  • The Ministers reaffirmed their common resolve to take decisive steps towards comprehensive reform of the Security Council that was envisaged by Heads of State and Government in the 2005 World Summit.
  • The four countries stressed delivering concrete outcomes, in writing and within a time frame.

This topic has been covered in the 23rd September 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis.
Category: POLITY AND GOVERNANCE

1. Eight Bills passed on last day of Rajya Sabha

Context:

The Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die, clocking a productivity rate of over 100%, despite it being one of the shortest monsoon sessions with only 10 sittings held.

Details:

  • The House, on the last day of the monsoon session, passed eight Bills.
  • During the day, the House passed the following legislations:

1) The Foreign Contribution Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020.

2) J&K Official Languages Bill, 2020.

  • The bill has included Kashmiri, Dogri and Hindi in the list of official languages of J&K in addition to Urdu and English.
  • The Bill has been passed by both Houses.

3) The Bilateral Netting of Qualified Financial Contracts Bill, 2020.

  • Bilateral netting refers to offsetting claims arising from dealings between two parties to determine the net amount payable or receivable from one party to the other.
  • Under the bill, a qualified financial contract (QFC) is a bilateral contract notified as a QFC by a relevant authority such as the Reserve Bank of India, Securities and Exchange Board of India, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority or International Financial Services Centres Authority.
  • These authorities may designate entities, such as non-banking financial companies or insurance or pension firms functioning under its jurisdiction, as qualified financial market participants to deal in QFCs.
  • The bill allows for the enforcement of netting for qualified financial contracts.

4) The Occupational Safety Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020

5) The Industrial Relations Code, 2020

6) The Code on Social Security, 2020

7) The Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2020

8) The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2020

Category: SECURITY

1. ‘MSMEs, start-ups not for non-personal data policy’

Context:

As per a survey by LocalCircles, a majority of MSMEs and start-ups are not comfortable with the draft non-personal data policy in the current form.

Details:

  • LocalCircles said that 80% MSMEs and start-ups oppose non-personal data policy in its current form.
  • It said that the startups and SMEs believe data sharing should be voluntary to start with and could be made mandatory later for firms with annual revenue of more than ₹500 crore.

Read more on this topic covered in the 2nd September 2020 Comprehensive News Analysis.

2. CAG: Rafale vendors yet to confirm tech transfer

What’s in News?

The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) observation while auditing the offset policy in defence deals.

  • The CAG has said that the French aerospace major Dassault Aviation and European missile maker MBDA have till date not confirmed the transfer of technology for the indigenous development of the engine for the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) by the DRDO, under the offset contract relating to the ₹60,000 crore deal for 36 Rafale fighter jets.

Offset Policy:

  • To develop the Indian defence industry and bring in high technologies, an offset policy was adopted.
  • The offset policy was adopted in 2005 for all defence capital imports above ₹300 crore.
  • Under the policy, the foreign vendor is required to invest at least 30% of the value of the contract in India.

3. U.S. House panel holds hearing on rights in Asia

What’s in News?

The Committee on Asia and the Pacific and Non-proliferation held a hearing on the topic titled: Stemming a Receding Tide: Human Rights and Democratic Values in Asia.

  • The restrictions in Kashmir, dilution of Article 370, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) were discussed at a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee hearing on human rights in Asia.

4. China vows to go carbon neutral by 2060

What’s in News?

Beijing seized the climate agenda by vowing to go carbon neutral by 2060.

  • The goals, which include a pledge to reach peak emissions in 2030, are the most concrete ones yet announced by China.
  • China is the world’s biggest polluter and accounts for a quarter of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions.

H. UPSC Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements with respect to the Consolidated Fund of India:
  1. It includes all revenues received by the government by way of direct taxes and indirect taxes.
  2. The money borrowed and receipts from loans given by the government are a part of the Consolidated Fund of India.
  3. Revenue generated from asset sale, earnings from state-run companies, disinvestment receipts go into the Consolidated Fund of India.

Which of the given statement/s is/are INCORRECT?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 3 only
  4. None of the above
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: d

Explanation:

  • Consolidated Fund of India is the most important of all government accounts. Revenues received by the government and expenses made by it, excluding the exceptional items, are part of the Consolidated Fund.
  • It includes all revenues received by the government by way of direct taxes and indirect taxes.
  • The money borrowed and receipts from loans given by the government are a part of the Consolidated Fund of India.
  • Revenue generated from asset sale, earnings from state-run companies, etc. go into the Consolidated Fund of India.
  • Money cannot be withdrawn from this fund without the Parliament’s approval.
Q2. Which of the given pair/s is/are NOT correctly matched?
  1. Farakka Barrage – West Bengal
  2. Prakasam Barrage – Telangana
  3. Jobra Barrage – Maharashtra
  4. Hathnikund Barrage – Haryana

Options:

  1. 1, 2 and 4 only
  2. 2 and 3 only
  3. 2, 3 and 4 only
  4. 2 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Farakka Barrage – West Bengal
  • Prakasam Barrage – Andhra Pradesh
  • Jobra Barrage – Odisha
  • Hathnikund Barrage – Haryana
Q3. Consider the following statements with respect to Adjournment Sine Die:
  1. It is the termination of a session of the House by an order made by the President.
  2. It means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
  3. It ends the very life of the existing House, and a new House is constituted after general elections are held.
  4. The presiding officer of a House can call a sitting of the House at any time after the House has been adjourned sine die.

Which of the given statement/s is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3 only
  2. 2 and 4 only
  3. 2 only
  4. 1 and 2 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: b

Explanation:

  • Adjournment sine die means terminating a sitting of Parliament for an indefinite period.
  • The power of adjournment sine die lies with the presiding officer of the House.
  • The presiding officer of a House can call a sitting of the House before the date or time to which it has been adjourned or at any time after the House has been adjourned sine die.
  • Prorogation is the termination of a session of the House by an order made by the President under article 85(2)(a) of the Constitution.
  • Prorogation terminates both the sitting and session of the House. Usually, within a few days after the House is adjourned sine die by the presiding officer, the President issues a notification for the prorogation of the session.
Q4. India is a signatory to which of the following convention/s?
  1. U.N. Convention on Narcotic Drugs – 1961
  2. U.N. Convention on Psychotropic Substances – 1972
  3. U.N. Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances – 1988
  4. UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime- 2000

Choose the correct option:

  1. 3 only
  2. 1 and 4 only
  3. 1, 2, 3 and 4
  4. 3 and 4 only
CHECK ANSWERS:-

Answer: c

Explanation:

Self-explanatory.

I. UPSC Mains Practice Questions

  1. The examples of women leadership garnering appreciation for effective handling of the pandemic presents a case for India to ponder over the low representation of women in the legislatures. Comment. (GS 1 Social Issues) (15 Marks, 250 Words).
  2. During a disaster, whether man-made or natural, poor and oppressed classes are exposed to greater adversity against the backdrop of intergenerational social disadvantage and lack of social security. Analyse the statement in the light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and suggest measures. (GS 1 Social Issues) (15 Marks, 250 Words).

Read the previous CNA here.

24 Sep 2020 CNA:- Download PDF Here

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  1. Very Relevant and useful information in a very structured manner. thank you so much for helping and guiding me in my career.